NSW Covid: Dominic Perrottet eases restrictions for November 8

Freedoms for fully vaccinated NSW residents have been brought forward to next Monday. Here are all the changes to the road map.

Sweeping changes to the NSW Covid road map have been unveiled with freedoms for fully vaccinated NSW residents brought forward three weeks from the original December 1 date.

From November 8, density limits inside venues and for hospitality businesses will shift to one person per two square metres and capacity limits will be lifted except for gyms and dance classes which will stay at 20 people per class. Dancing will also be allowed at nightclubs.

Guests to a home and outdoor gathering numbers will be uncapped, though a Covid-safe plan is needed for gatherings of more than 1000 people.

Indoor pools can reopen, play centres and amusement centres can reopen while stadiums can enjoy 100 per cent capacity.

But mask rules for indoor settings will remain in place until December 15 or until NSW reaches a 95 per cent fully vaccinated target.

Nightclub dancing returns earlier than expected. Picture: Damian Shaw

Premier Dominic Perrottet with Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Dr Kerry Chant on Tuesday. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Freedoms for unvaccinated people have been delayed until either December 15 or when NSW reaches 95 per cent double vaccinated. Residents are barred from non-essential retail, dining at hospitality venues or travelling around regional NSW.

The decision was a “balancing act,” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

“It was a balance, it was a balancing act here,” the Premier said.

“We set a date today where we are as a state, one and free that does not diminish from our continual message across the state.”

He wouldn’t rule out “targeted restrictions” if a large outbreak were to occur somewhere in NSW, but expressed confidence about the state reaching the 95 per cent double dose.

“We have exceeded where we believed we would be … to be in a position where we could potentially reach 95 per cent fully vaccinated,” Mr Perrottet said.

Indoor pools will also reopen for all purposes. Picture: David Caird

“I think we are on track … one last push.”

“We want to make sure when we open up, we open up safely,” he said.

“We believe the change we’ve made today will enable that … it will incentivise (vaccination).”

The NSW double dose vaccination rate has jumped up almost 0.5 per cent to 88.3 per cent, while 93.65 per cent of people have had at least one dose.

The figures – to 11.59pm on Monday night – will be confirmed by the commonwealth later today.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard and NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged 12 to 34-year-olds to get the jab as the age group is still has the highest transmission rate, and encouraged people vaccinated six months ago to get their this booster shot.

“We really want to see this group shoot up and achieve a greater than average second dose coverage,” Dr Chant said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the impact of Covid was “slowing”, especially in previous hot spots like western and southwest Sydney, despite “issues” in regional areas like the Hunter.

“The virus is well and truly out there, but it is slowing in terms of its impact on us,” Mr Hazzard said.

Meanwhile 173 new Covid cases were reported in NSW on Tuesday while four more people lost their lives.

It comes one day after international and regional reopened in NSW, with people now able to leave Australia without a permit or travel around the state so long as they are fully vaccinated.